Page 72 of Calling a Cease-Fire

His lips met mine in a gentle kiss, and then he pressed one to my forehead. Why was that so fucking hot?

“Ready for food?”

I couldn’t speak. The experience, the intimacy of it, the way he made me feel safe…it was overwhelming.

I nodded and he walked over to the bag of food, pulling containers out. I took a deep breath, moving to the cabinet I remembered the plates were in. I took in the kitchen again, curiosity getting the better of me.

“How did you end up with this place?” I brought the plates over to the counter where the food was.

He put a spoon in the last container of food and took a plate from me. “It was my late grandmother’s.”

“Oh.” I spooned a helping of moo goo gai pan onto my plate. “Were you two close?”

“Very. I spent a lot of time here with her when I was growing up. We would sit and talk about little ways she could keep the history of this house but still give it a modern feel. She loved my ideas. In the last few years before she died, she even let me do a few things. The amazement on her face with the way it turned out was worth it.”

“Like what?”

“The front stairs, for instance.”

“The railing is stunning. Is it original to the house?”

“Yeah. Just needed a little paint.”

“Did you do everything yourself?”

He shrugged. “Most of it when she was alive. After she passed and I took possession of it, I hired contractors to come in to do some of the major stuff like the kitchen and bathrooms.” He leaned back against the counter, plate in hand, waiting on me to finish loading up. “Probably took me close to a year before everything was exactly the way I wanted it.”

“It’s breathtaking,” I said with a sigh, looking around with an even more appreciative eye.

He pushed off the counter and leaned down close to my ear. “So are you.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that lifted my lips as I followed him downstairs to the theater room.

He picked the movie this time, and I was surprised by his choice. Not what I’d expected at all.

“You like rom-coms?”

He grinned. “Who doesn’t? Love and laughs, what’s to hate?”

I rolled my eyes at that. Me. I didn’t like those things. Although, I liked when Zack could make me laugh.

He started the movie, and once we were both finished eating, I found myself scooting over to him and curling into the crook of his arm. He placed a kiss on my temple, curling his arm tighter around my shoulders. I tried not to overthink how much I enjoyed the nonsexual moments like this with him. If I was being honest, I enjoyed them just as much as the sexual stuff.

After a bit, I shifted and hissed when a tender spot on my ass flared from the movement. Zack chuckled above me and I looked up with a scowl.

His heated gaze took me by surprise. “I love that you’re going to randomly think of me doing that to your ass.” He trailed his knuckles over my jaw. “You really staying the night?”

I nodded. “Yes. Both of us are off tomorrow. Figured we could stay in bed and then either make breakfast or go get breakfast?”

His smile was absolute joy. He leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. With a swipe of his tongue, he coaxed me to open for him, and the moment I did, he thrust his tongue inside, seeking mine.

A moan, not sure if it was mine or his, hit my ears. I needed more. Needed to feel him pressing against me.

Without breaking the kiss, I clambered up and straddled his lap. I bit down on his bottom lip, pulling it into my mouth with my teeth, and moved my hips, grinding my clit in circles against his hard shaft. I was already desperate for him.

Pulling back, I climbed off his legs and stood in front of him. I ripped my shirt up over my head, sending it flying across the room, then quickly unclasped my bra, discarding that too.

A playful grin lifted his lips. “I like this show. Way better than the movie we were watching.”